We have a spot of weather: on the evening of Friday 3rd October Masan called me over to his computer to show me satellite images of a typhoon that is heading towards Japan and likely to hit Southern Honshu on Sunday or Monday. A foot of rain is predicted in the mountains, with all the accompanying devastation from mudslides. "The southern coast of Honshu, from the prefectures of Wakayama to Chiba, will bear the brunt of Phanfone's fury. Destructive wind gusts of 160 to 195 kph (100 to 120 mph) threaten to cause widespread and significant damage to tree and structures. Residents should prepare for extensive and lengthy power outages."
I had planned not to alarm anyone by blogging, not knowing how to gauge the level of risk we will be facing. Masan is phlegmatic: the typhoon is alive, and constantly changing; let's watch how it evolves, and enjoy Saturday. Then, because the high winds will bring down the ripening chestnuts, we can go out and gather them. (What - in 195 kph winds?) In the event it looks as though Typhoon Phanfone is going to turn south and east, so we'll miss the eye of the storm (which will peak around 5am our Monday morning), and I've stopped worrying - and restarted blogging.
But I'm beginning to understand how it feels, living with ongoing geological and meteorological threats. The troubles in the Middle East seem utterly remote when you're contemplating being washed away under a wall of mud.
Meanwhile, Saturday was the annual sports event at Fuku and Kanta's kindergarten. Masan was down there from 7.30am, setting up, and we joined him an hour later. I'm out of touch with such things but was gobsmacked by the level of parental commitment (the event lasted until 2pm); the complexity of the choreography (the children must have been practising for months - does this explain Fuku's constant charging about the house?); the sophistication of the props; and the sheer coordination of backing music, microphones etc. An Olympic effort.
I've FB'd a few images to show the paparazzi parents, and Fuku running for her life. Although some of it was very competitive there was plenty of collaboration, too, e.g. one child using an obviously well rehearsed technique to help another - in difficulty - do a backward roll over a bar. There was a bit of healthy indoctrination (?): a "race" where one child lay down, had a blanket put over him/her, was then woken up, jumped up, and given their school bag. (School - yeah - go go go!!) I only saw a few tearful or rebellious scenes.
Midway through, we had a stupendous picnic. The Japanese really know how to do it in style and, of course, with the usual aesthetic values.
And then the perfect end to the day: a visit to the local onsen (spa). I had been briefed about full nudity. So it was a relief to discover gender segregation. Phew. Even so, I had to suppress a fleeting sense of panic as I entered the pre-bathing changing and washing area where a couple of dozen women, from kids to the oldest of OAPs, were doing their biz. A lot of flesh!
I was happy to discover that the water temperature was pleasantly warm or hot, not the crazy molten affair chez nous. And that the complex included several outdoor pools and sitting areas where you could cool down, feeling the tingle of a light breeze on your skin. Delicious.
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